The Penn's Grove record., 1887-06-04

and returned their fines, this was a
practical admission on the part Of the
Delaware authorities that they were
wrong, for the two Governors establish
ed he mouth of the Delaware river at
Reedy's Island, while the United States
Government uyey places 'hr mouth
Of the river fifteen miles above Beedy's
Island, aud the fishermen contend that
they now fish in The same channel
where Torton and Belford Wood were
arrested for catching sturgeon two
years, ago, and if Delaware could not
convict these men then, they cant CON
VIC The jersey Sturgeon fishers now.
The II of the meeting Mas taken.
that it was the duty OF Delaware to
establish, by sOnic legal decision. their
right jurisdiction over the ships chau-
nel where the Jerseyunen catch stur-
geon and the association 10y vote eN-
pressed It's determination to have Con-
Press at its next session settle the yeX-
ed question as to whether One stale
could legally claim or maintain The
exclusive right to use the public high
way, the bay aud the river, to the de-
trimenb Of the Jerseymen who have
4slied these waters for thirty years. y
motion was made and carried to r.
quest Congressman Hires, OF tine First
dis fieL (which includes -Baysidc,) 10
bring the quesi ion before Congress al
the next session for settlement.
a STRONG PROTEST.
Secretary Eli ntpn made ID speech,
in which he said:
This sturgeon Fishermen's Piotec-
tive Association is organized in tie in
terest of New Jersey and Prnnsyiyau-
ia fishermen for the purpose of deter
mining the cOnstituti0nality of the
Delaware fish law, wherein that State
arrogates to herself the exclusive jur-
isdiction of the waters of Delaware
Day anu llNti tlbiil bilb lfNtt uAt Fi4ilt
to the New jersey shore. New JERSEY
would be false TO the teachings of then
primitive fathers if they were not i'll
dignant ut this unjust law passed by
the Delaware solOns. have d Della
ware fish gang in our midst, compris-
ing many boats and nets. The first ct
the SEASON they ,fished at Bowers, Beach
Del, where they played havoc amcng
The sturgeon before Bayside commence
ed to fish. When the fish LETT Bower,
Beach they broke camp aud came TO
this locality, where they follow their
avocation unmolested.
Take the oyster business. for illus
tration. Six hundred vessels are en-
ployed III catching oysters in Delawarf
Bay. Fiye-siXtbs OF these are register.
ed in NV Jersey, one-siXth are fol-
eiguers principally Delawdreans, who
pay no revenue to the state Of New
Jersey. The principal oysters beds lie
on the New Jersey side Of the hay,
from Arnold's Point 10 G0rtescue
Beach, Il distance of fifteen miles, and
Delaware uystermen with impnnity
dredge these beds carry The oysters to
their side of The bay and plant them
and clam equal rights with our oya
termen. Oysters don't swim, like stur-
geoll. They belong to the bottom, and
we can leglslatt for our oyster beds as
we can for our timber lands. But
when IL State claims exclusive domil-
lon over the sturgeon, the most migra-
tory fish known 10 i~chthyolugy, they
can't ind law to protect So shallow Il
preteEce. Sturgeon are found in North
ern Europe, in the Black and Caspian
Sea- and their tributaries. The lakes
and rivers Of the United States are
abundantly stocked with them. They
inllabil the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans
and The Gulf OF Mexico aud every hdvI-
gable stream almost III The world.
They only inhabit The Delaware river
and the bay from the middle of March
to the LIST OF September. Hence, what
IL legal absurdity il is fur little Della
ware to attempt to legisiat New Jer-
sey out of the river and ships channel,
denying IA nOn-resident's right - fish
III the uavigabe waters OF the United
States ion sturgeon with Il drift net.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Secretary Eikinlon strongly recon-
mended COM essioilal interference
| and cnuusel, d resistance to injustice
vita ali the Weapons known to c.yillz-
eli warliue. Tie meeting, rs with one
vuice, a llaudei tie speaker ami ua-
animously passed the following pluan-
bic and resolution:
WnEGEAs. tie authorities OF Della.
ware ale attempting Ia eAeiclpc, i,irs-
ally, exclusive ia .,liclion Oyer tht
Yates OF Inc Ieo;Auc ti.r, atd oI
Delaware Bay, contrary 90 lie u"c 'j.'
tent and mr"uIng ni !nr nhJnlctluI
grauicd by the United States oupt'I IA,
Court, Gaining below the tuhsAraol
Lighthouse and Bou,ua, Hook, Whcl,
we are adv list d and believe We i,ayt III,
legal right to eXvrctse OR honest eau.
ing as liShermea; tieItlUIe
rs.